Gold Lame' (That's le-mayy) (Gold Lame' Series)

by C. Pic Michel

  Miguel saw the connection between Darius and David as inextricable. Jojo had led him to the shoe store. He was convinced Darius and David knew each other and was, for the moment, unsure Amelia was ignorant of her ex-boyfriend’s possible involvement. The nervousness she described the night of the argument over shoes indicated a possible drug habit but the nervousness in the restaurant whispered of something else.

  To Miguel, David seemed more nervous about losing Amelia’s money than losing Amelia. He wondered if David was feeling the pressure of owing his dealer and losing the money he needed to pay off a debt. I’m just going to keep this all under wraps for now, Miguel thought to himself as he pushed the packet of pink stuff that represented the shoe store owner to the side of the table.

  Amelia listened attentively to Miguel’s thoughts, trying to comprehend the scene he was describing without having a near violent reaction at the same time. The waitress came to the table with a fresh pot of coffee.

  “You folks have been here for awhile,” she commented. “I thought this might help you.” Amelia followed the hand on the coffee pot over the arm and above the shoulder to the calm dark eyes of Tetta. She leapt from the seat and threw her arms around Tetta’s neck hugging her sideways, careful not to burn herself on the pot.

  I missed you! Amelia thought to Tetta.

  Always here for you. Tetta chuckled and held Amelia around the waist as they both looked down and watched Miguel as he continued to play with his packets and utensils. Boys will be boys, she thought to Amelia who could not conceal her growing resentment that he might implicate her in her own shooting.

  Pause, pause, pause…

  Jahni and Hrim walked around the dark side of the Wait Zone trying to find the drunk that had been showing up throughout the project. He was nowhere to be found. Hrim looked down at his sandaled feet on the grimy cobblestones of the back alley where Jahni had taken him.

  “What do you say to a cup of latte and a round of Chess?” Hrim asked. Instantly the two were transported to the coffee shop where Amelia and Miguel were comparing notes. It was important for these two to develop a liaison of their own so Hrim and Jahni shifted shapes enough to remain unrecognizable to the pair sitting at the back table. Hrim produced his Coffee Shop credit card at the counter and endured a few seconds of teasing from Jahni.

  “Well, well. You certainly are moving into the 21st century,” Jahni laughed.

  “One of my projects gave it to me in appreciation,” Hrim explained. “Might as well use it up.” The duo retired to two comfy armchairs. On the table between them, a marble chessboard and pieces awaited play. Jahni advanced his pawn.

  “So how do you think this is going to turn out?” Jahni asked nodding to the back table. Hrim considered the possibilities.

  “I’d like to say it’s too soon to tell, but it really is getting down to the wire.” Everything was in a state of flux. Since no one had nailed any of the major pieces into place yet, the entire outcome could be radically different than present circumstances indicated. When it came to the Akashic, Hrim was well experienced in its shifting nature. He knew what he saw now, but if one piece changed, the entire record could be adjusted. History could be re-written long before or after it was initially entered into record.

  Even human science had discovered the flexibility of outcome and called it quantum indeterminacy when Erwin Schroedinger had illustrated how a cat could be both dead and alive until human consciousness was superimposed on the subject and made the final determination. The same was true for Amelia. The question remained as to whose consciousness or dream would prevail.

  Hrim tipped his head back and sensed to a particular thread in the dream sequence. He opened his eyes and squinted at Jahni. “I’d like to say ‘this or something better,’ but right now, it could get a lot worse.”

  Hrim looked across the floor at Tetta who was playing waitress. “Damn. Wouldn’t you know it,” he grumbled.

  “What’s up?” Jahni asked moving his rook into position for checkmate.

  “Amelia and Miguel are splitting up and things could get messy. Jahni, can you stick with Miguel?” Jahni nodded.

  “Good,” Hrim continued, “Tetta’s with Amelia. I need to check in with Jojo and our buddy Galahad.” Hrim started to rise.

  “Wait!” Jahni hissed looking incredulously at Hrim. “I almost forgot all about Galahad filling out the snail’s shell as Jojo’s guide!” Hrim laughed heartily and rejoined Jahni next to the chessboard for a moment.

  “That’s what happens when your students don’t play by the rules, they get assignments that will teach them better.” Hrim shook his finger at Jahni.

  “You can’t hold me responsible for him,” Jahni protested. “His ego beat him to the Wait Zone.”

  “Well, hopefully sliming around as a slug in a shell has taught him a thing or two about taking things into his own hands.” Hrim laughed. “Though that acrobatics on the mountainside was a little over the top.”

  “He was just working with Jojo’s imaginings,” Jahni insisted.

  “Well, right now Jojo is imagining himself on an intergalactic trek in his snail shaped spaceship. I think it’s time we bring him in so he can contribute to the clean-up efforts.” Hrim shook his head. “I don’t think you and I have ever finished a game of chess. Better get ready to follow Miguel. As soon as he realizes Amelia’s gone he’ll be off and running too.”

  Pause, pause, pause…

  Tetta monitored thoughts from the counter across the coffee shop as Amelia grew increasingly weary of Miguel’s silent belief he was in control of his case which included her life. Amelia searched her mind for a way to have a say in her own rescue. She reviewed what she had learned and found a possible way out of Miguel’s dream and back to her own. She believed a phone call could connect her with a different dream based on both the call she took at the theatre and the one which disclosed what she now knew to be Miguel’s home address. She also found that spaces were interchangeable between dreams, just as the diner in Main Street America had morphed into the restaurant where she broke it off with David. Amelia decided to initiate her own crossover. She excused herself, leaving Miguel at the table, and went to the Ladies’ Room.

  Tetta locked in to Amelia’s coordinates and sent the message to Hrim just before Amelia wished herself into the bathroom of David’s apartment. Outside the apartment in the hallway Tetta slid into the position of cleaning lady and ran the vacuum sweeper over the cheap industrial carpet.

  Amelia was pleased that she had been able to morph to the waking dream. She was unclear about a few details that she hoped weren’t too important. She heard David’s voice in the living room. She didn’t hear anyone responding so she crept out of the bathroom through the bedroom hoping to listen in on what she believed was a phone conversation. Peering through the partially opened doorway out of the bedroom through the hall to the living room Amelia watched the back of David’s head as she crept closer.

  David was standing in the middle of the living room having a conversation with himself.

  I told him he needed to get help, she thought.

  “I think we should just split with what we have,” he proposed. David turned his head in the air as if he was listening for a reply.

  He’s crazier than I thought. Amelia moved into the hallway to make sure David wasn’t talking to someone on his cell phone.

  “It’s just too close,” David sounded as though he was trying to convince himself. “The police have been by three times about what happened to Mimi.” David listened as if he was on a headset but Amelia didn’t see the characteristic flash of David’s Bluetooth in his ear.

  “When I pull off this last deal, I’ll be able to take care of her the way I always dreamed.”

  He’s delusional if he thinks I would come back to him. Amelia wondered if David’s conversation with himself was proof that Miguel was right about the drugs.

  “Amelia can dump me, but she will never leave me.” David crossed the living ro
om toward the hallway.

  SHE? Amelia’s eyes widened. Who’s SHE? Amelia pressed herself against the wall hoping she was right and would be invisible to David.

  Oblivious to Amelia’s presence, David walked into the bedroom and rolled open the sliding door on the closet. Reaching up he lowered a suitcase down from the shelf and laid it on the bed. Amelia crept closer as David opened the suitcase. Amelia stared at the bundles of money inside then searched David’s face for some clue. Could it have come from dealing drugs as Miguel imagined at the coffee shop?

  “Between you and me,” David cooed to the money, “we’ll be able to go far.” David closed the suitcase, grabbed it with a triumphant flair, turning a bizarre pirouette before he strode past Amelia into the living room. She heard the front door slam as he left the apartment. Amelia ventured out into the open area of the living room. She opened the door and was engulfed in the roaring vibrations of the vacuum cleaner. Looking into Tetta’s scolding eyes, Amelia thought of an excuse. I needed to see if it was true, she defended.

  “You need to trust Miguel and stay close to him,” Tetta urged. “I cannot save you. I’m not allowed to intervene. You need to work together with Miguel while you’re both still on the same dream frequency.”

  “Miguel doesn’t even trust me,” Amelia argued. “He won’t tell me everything he’s thinking.”

  “But you’re privileged to his thoughts,” Tetta pointed out.

  “Yes, and that’s what brought me here.”

  “So what did you learn?”

  “I think David is dealing drugs.” Amelia still felt surprised. “But it’s not with Darius, it’s a woman. Another woman.” She seethed.

  “Then you need to share that with Miguel.” Tetta surveyed Amelia’s energetic structure and felt the resistance growing.

  “When I know who she is, I’ll let Miguel know.” Amelia’s ego resisted Tetta’s advice and confirmed the energetic wall Tetta perceived.

  “Amelia!” Tetta worried that Amelia’s resistance would cut off her fledgling connection with Miguel.

  “It’s my dream,” Amelia insisted. “It’s my life.” She turned and let the door fall closed behind her leaving Tetta in the hallway as she walked to the window and gazed out on the traffic below. “And in case you forgot,” Amelia shouted over her shoulder through the door, “visiting Miguel is what got me into this mess.”

  Tetta listened as Amelia thought of how much she had helped David save his beloved store to establish it as a powerful force in the world of upscale accessories. He didn’t need to deal drugs, but he had; and he had betrayed her trust in more than one way. Throughout her entire body Amelia felt complete resistance to trusting any man at the moment.

  I bet he’s going to the store. I bet he is running drugs out the back door. I bet I can beat him there. Amelia glanced at the door as she crossed the living room and headed for the bathroom off David’s bedroom.

  Maybe you can. Tetta psychically argued. But you should take Miguel with you!

  Unsure if she really needed to be in a similar type of place she imagined herself to the restroom in the stock room at Des Shoe. As the room shifted and became smaller, she was grateful no one was there to greet her. Peeking out through the slightly open door of the small bathroom she imagined sharing the restroom by surprise. That could get messy, she thought. There must be some way to check out the scene before I arrive. I’ll ask Hrim next time I see him.

  Pause, pause, pause…

  Miguel knocked on the Ladies’ Room door and heard no response.

  “Can I help you sir?” a bus boy stopped to ask.

  “I hope so.” Miguel pulled his badge from his shirt pocket and flashed it. “My friend went in there awhile ago and now she’s not responding. Is there any other exit?”

  “No sir.” The busboy replied.

  “I’m concerned about her health,” Miguel lied. “Can you open it?”

  “I’ll get the key.” The bus boy disappeared around the corner. In a moment he returned and unlocked the door to reveal the empty restroom.

  “Thanks.” Miguel left the busboy holding the door after making sure there were no windows. He felt even more uncertain of Amelia’s innocence with her unplanned departure. A high-powered corporate attorney would be almost invisible to the law as leader of a drug ring, Miguel considered.

  As he returned to the booth, Miguel tied the drive-by to his visit to Des Shoe, but he couldn’t be sure who the intended target was. Maybe they intended to wipe out the witness, maybe the cop who was getting too close. If Amelia was involved, maybe someone had rebelled. Maybe she got in the way of the hit she had ordered. After all, she expected Jojo to be home at that time.

  He tried a different combination and pushed the pink and blue packets together on the tabletop. Miguel wondered if David Delaney had been contacted after he left the store. Maybe Darius Lovelle had received a call, though the manager seemed far too haughty to be open to someone like him. None of them really felt like a salt or pepper shaker to Miguel’s detective senses. Someone, other than just Amelia, was missing from the scene.

  In the midst of all this tracking Miguel had become aware of a memory from a dream sequence in Main Street America when he had become lucid the first time. He knew that someone was following them then. Miguel remembered the protective feeling he had for Amelia and Jojo at that moment. Both seemed to be in danger. Even if Amelia wasn’t completely innocent, she didn’t deserve to die. Miguel renewed his commitment to protect both Jojo and Amelia, and solve the case.

  Miguel pondered where Amelia might have disappeared to while Jahni listened in on his thoughts from across the room. The detective was very good at putting pieces together, even if they continued to lead him in more than one direction. At least he wasn’t stuck in the wrong direction. Miguel didn’t quite know where to begin and he felt a little lost.

  Hrim had strongly recommended the pair should stay together. Even though he was considering Amelia as a suspect in her own dream, he had also hoped to benefit from what she knew about the dream process. Miguel figured Amelia knew most of the players better than he did. He decided he needed to find Amelia.

  Miguel thought about the way Amelia had sent Hrim floating in the balloon when they first consciously met in the fog. He recalled she said she imagined what she wanted to happen in order for it to come true. Miguel focused on the spoon that represented Amelia. He wished with all his might that Amelia would rejoin him in the booth. Nothing seemed to happen. He continued to focus on the spoon and imagined Amelia’s curl framed face until he could see it on the spoon’s rounded surface.

  Picturing Amelia coming closer and closer to him the spoon suddenly jumped off the table and hurtled toward Miguel smacking him in the forehead. The spoon clattered to the table. Miguel rubbed his smarting forehead and looked around the room to see if anyone had noticed. He caught the eye of a man sitting on a stool at the counter who was laughing at Miguel.

  Would you like a little help? Jahni thought. Miguel listened to the voice inside his own head. He was sure he had delivered head cases to the psych ward for less realistic hallucinations.

  Miguel’s eyes locked on Jahni and he replied with thought to test this newfound skill Amelia had described. Are you talking to me? Miguel ventured.

  Oh come on, you can do better than that! Jahni laughed at the impersonation of Clint Eastwood inside Miguel’s mind.

  Miguel jumped to his feet and stared at Jahni who jumped off the stool and put a reassuring hand on Miguel’s long blue shirt sleeve.

  “Really, it’s okay. I’m here to help. Jahni morphed into the personage of Hrim’s brother from Main Street America, and Miguel relaxed a little. I can give you instruction on how to wish yourself where you want to be. You can’t make Amelia do anything, but you can follow her.” Jahni motioned to the booth and the pair sat down across from each other.

  “Here’s what you can do,” Jahni continued. “Conjure up an image of Amelia. Forget about using the spoon a
s a focusing tool. You have everything you need in the heart of your imagination.” Jahni’s voice dropped a note and he began speaking slowly and deliberately as he guided Miguel. “See Amelia’s face in your mind’s eye. See her hair, her eyes, the way she smiles. Feel Amelia in your heart.”

  Miguel closed his eyes tentatively yet was immediately deeply entranced by all of the images of Amelia flooding through his mind. He saw her from the moment he had first laid eyes on her helpless body on the steps of his house, with her mother in the hospital, to seeing her in India, at the picnic, during the circus. Miguel had been taking detailed note of her appearance, her quirks, and habits all along. Jahni observed the connection that had now been formed between Miguel and Amelia.

  “Now,” Jahni said, “let yourself move out through your heart to connect with this energy that is Amelia and when you feel her presence you will find yourself with her.”

  Miguel opened his eyes to look at Jahni doubtfully, but instead found himself watching Amelia as she peeked out of the bathroom across the stock room at Des Shoe. The door of the rear entrance opened and David walked in.

  David immediately started rummaging through the shoe boxes on the shelves in the stock room.

  “Dammit!” David swore. “Where did it go?” Amelia watched cautiously from the restroom as he started tossing shoe boxes over his shoulders. As they crashed on the concrete floor behind David, expensive stiletto heels, pricey pumps, and walking shoes popped out and mixed in glistening multi-colored patterns across the floor.

  Miguel watched Amelia and tried to listen to her thoughts to see if he could ascertain why she was spying on the man he imagined to be David Delaney.

  “There you are!” David stood transfixed with a box cradled in his hands. It was the box for the gold lamé shoes he had urged her to take against her will. She looked down at her feet. The shoes were on tight.